Lattice QCD and Particle Physics
Contribution from the USQCD Collaboration to the Proceedings of the US Community Study on the Future of Particle Physics (Snowmass 2021).
hep-lat↗
arXiv subjects
Shailesh Chandrasekharan
Publications and source records attributed to Shailesh Chandrasekharan.
Qubit Regularization and Qubit Embedding Algebras
Qubit regularization is a procedure to regularize the infinite dimensional local Hilbert space of bosonic fields to a finite dimensional one, which is a crucial step when trying to simulate lattice quantum field theories on a quantum computer. When the qubit-regularized lattice quantum fields preserve important symmetries of the original theory, qubit regularization naturally enforces certain algebraic structures on these quantum fields. We introduce the concept of qubit embedding algebras (QEAs) to characterize this algebraic structure associated with a qubit regularization scheme. We show a systematic procedure to derive QEAs for the O(N) lattice spin models and the SU(N) lattice gauge theories. While some of the QEAs we find were discovered earlier in the context of the D-theory approach, our method shows that QEAs are far more richer. A more complete understanding of the QEAs could be helpful in recovering the fixed points of the desired quantum field theories.
hep-lat↗
Three-dimensional Gross-Neveu model with two flavors of staggered fermions
We introduce a strongly interacting lattice field theory model containing two flavors of massless staggered fermions with two kinds of interactions: (1) a lattice current-current interaction, and (2) an on-site four-fermion interaction. At weak couplings, we expect a massless fermion phase since our interactions become irrelevant at long distances. At strong couplings, based on previous studies, we argue that our lattice model contains two different massive fermion phases with different mechanisms of fermion mass generation. In one phase, fermions become massive through Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking (SSB) via the formation of a fermion bilinear condensate. In the other phase, fermion mass arises through a more exotic mechanism without the formation of any fermion bilinear condensate. Our lattice model is free of sign problems and can be studied using the fermion bag algorithm. The longer term goal here is to study both these mass generation phenomena in a single model and understand how different phases come together.
hep-lat↗
Space-time symmetric qubit regularization of the asymptotically free two-dimensional O(4) model
We explore if space-time symmetric lattice field theory models with a finite Hilbert space per lattice site can reproduce asymptotic freedom in the two-dimensional $O(4)$ model. We focus on a simple class of such models with a five dimensional local Hilbert space. We demonstrate how even the simplest model reproduces asymptotic freedom within the D-theory formalism but at the cost of increasing the size of the Hilbert space through coupling several layers of a two-dimensional lattice. We then argue that qubit regularization can be viewed as an effective field theory (EFT) even if the continuum limit cannot be reached, as long as we can tune the model close enough to the continuum limit where perturbation theory, or other analytical techniques, become viable. We construct a simple lattice model on a single layer with a four dimensional local Hilbert space that acts like an excellent EFT of the original theory.
hep-lat↗
Sub-leading conformal dimensions at the O(4) Wilson-Fisher fixed point
In this work we focus on computing the conformal dimensions $D(j_L,j_R)$ of local fields that transform in an irreducible representation of $SU(2) \times SU(2)$ labeled with $(j_L,j_R)$ at the $O(4)$ Wilson-Fisher fixed point using the Monte Carlo method. In the large charge expansion, among the sectors with a fixed large value of $j = {\rm max}(j_L,j_R)$, the leading sector has $|j_L-j_R| = 0$ and the sub-leading one has $|j_L-j_R| = 1$. Since Monte Carlo calculations at large $j$ become challenging in the traditional lattice formulation of the $O(4)$ model, a qubit regularized $O(4)$ lattice model was used recently to compute $D(j,j)$. Here we extend those calculations to the sub-leading sector. Our Monte Carlo results up to $j=20$ fit well to the form $D(j,j-1)-D(j) \sim λ_{1/2}/\sqrt{j} + λ_1/j + λ_{3/2}/j^{3/2}$, consistent with recent predictions of the large charge expansion. Taking into account systematic effects in our fitting procedures we estimate the two leading coefficients to be $λ_{1/2}=2.08(5)$, $λ_1=2.2(3)$.
hep-lat↗
Hamiltonian models of lattice fermions solvable by the meron-cluster algorithm
We introduce a half-filled Hamiltonian of spin-half lattice fermions that can be studied with the efficient meron-cluster algorithm in any dimension. As with the usual bipartite half-filled Hubbard models, the naïve $U(2)$ symmetry is enhanced to $SO(4)$. On the other hand our model has a novel spin-charge flip ${\mathbb Z}^C_2$ symmetry which is an important ingredient of free massless fermions. In this work we focus on one spatial dimension, and show that our model can be viewed as a lattice-regularized two-flavor chiral-mass Gross-Neveu model. Our model remains solvable in the presence of the Hubbard coupling $U$, which maps to a combination of Gross-Neveu and Thirring couplings in one dimension. Using the meron-cluster algorithm we find that the ground state of our model is a valence bond solid when $U=0$. From our field theory analysis, we argue that the valence bond solid forms inevitably because of an interesting frustration between spin and charge sectors in the renormalization group flow enforced by the ${\mathbb Z}^C_2$ symmetry. This state spontaneously breaks translation symmetry by one lattice unit, which can be identified with a $\mathbb{Z}_2^χ$ chiral symmetry in the continuum. We show that increasing $U$ induces a quantum phase transition to a critical phase described by the $SU(2)_1$ Wess-Zumino-Witten theory. The quantum critical point between these two phases is known to exhibit a novel symmetry enhancement between spin and dimer. Here we verify the scaling relations of these correlation functions near the critical point numerically. Our study opens up the exciting possibility of numerical access to similar novel phase transitions in higher dimensions in fermionic lattice models using the meron-cluster algorithm.
hep-lat↗
Qubit regularization of asymptotic freedom
We provide strong evidence that the asymptotically free (1+1)-dimensional non-linear O(3) sigma model can be regularized using a quantum lattice Hamiltonian, referred to as the "Heisenberg-comb", that acts on a Hilbert space with only two qubits per spatial lattice site. The Heisenberg-comb consists of a spin-half anti-ferromagnetic Heisenberg-chain coupled anti-ferromagnetically to a second local spin-half particle at every lattice site. Using a world-line Monte Carlo method we show that the model reproduces the universal step-scaling function of the traditional model up to correlation lengths of 200,000 in lattice units and argue how the continuum limit could emerge. We provide a quantum circuit description of time-evolution of the model and argue that near-term quantum computers may suffice to demonstrate asymptotic freedom.
hep-lat↗
Emergence of Gauss' Law in a $Z_2$ Lattice Gauge Theory
We explore a $Z_2$ Hamiltonian lattice gauge theory in one spatial dimension with a coupling $h$, without imposing any Gauss' law constraint. We show that in our model $h=0$ is a free deconfined quantum critical point containing massless fermions where all Gauss' law sectors are equivalent. The coupling $h$ is a relevant perturbation of this critical point and fermions become massive due to confinement and chiral symmetry breaking. To study the emergent Gauss' law sectors at low temperatures in this massive phase we use a quantum Monte Carlo method that samples configurations of the partition function written in a basis in which local conserved charges are diagonal. We find that two Gauss' law sectors, related by particle-hole symmetry, emerge naturally. When the system is doped with an extra particle, many more Gauss's law sectors related by translation invariance emerge. Using results in the range $0.01 < h \leq 0.15 $ we find that three different mass scales of the model behave like $h^{p}$ where $p \approx 0.579$.
cond-mat.str-el↗
Fermion-bag inspired Hamiltonian lattice field theory for fermionic quantum criticality
Motivated by the fermion bag approach we construct a new class of Hamiltonian lattice field theories that can help us to study fermionic quantum critical points, particularly those with four-fermion interactions. Although these theories are constructed in discrete-time with a finite temporal lattice spacing $\varepsilon$, when $\varepsilon\rightarrow 0$, conventional continuous-time Hamiltonian lattice field theories are recovered. The fermion bag algorithms run relatively faster when $\varepsilon=1$ as compared to $\varepsilon \rightarrow 0$, but still allow us to compute universal quantities near the quantum critical point even at such a large value of $\varepsilon$. As an example of this new approach, here we study the $N_f=1$ Gross-Neveu chiral Ising universality class in $2+1$ dimensions by calculating the critical scaling of the staggered mass order parameter. We show that we are able to study lattice sizes up to $100^2$ sites when $\varepsilon=1$, while with comparable resources we can only reach lattice sizes of up to $64^2$ when $\varepsilon \rightarrow 0$. The critical exponents obtained in both these studies match within errors.
cond-mat.str-el↗
Baryon bag simulation of QCD in the strong coupling limit
We explore the possibility of a simulation of strong coupling QCD in terms of so-called baryon bags. In this form the known representation in terms of monomers, dimers and baryon loops is reorganized such that the baryon contributions are collected in space time domains referred to as baryon bags. Within the bags three quarks propagate coherently as a baryon that is described by a free fermion, whereas the rest of the lattice is solely filled with interacting meson terms, i.e., quark and diquark monomers and dimers. We perform a simulation directly in the baryon bag language using a newly developed worm update and show first results in two dimensions.
hep-lat↗
A qubit regularization of the $O(3)$ sigma model
We construct a qubit regularization of the $O(3)$ non-linear sigma model in two and three spatial dimensions using a quantum Hamiltonian with two qubits per lattice site. Using a worldline formulation and worm algorithms, we show that in two spatial dimensions our model has a quantum critical point where the well-known scale-invariant physics of the three-dimensional Wilson-Fisher fixed point is reproduced. In three spatial dimensions, we recover mean-field critical exponents at a similar quantum critical point. These results show that our qubit Hamiltonian is in the same universality class as the traditional classical lattice model close to the critical points. Simple modifications to our model also allow us to study the physics of traditional lattice models with $O(2)$ and $Z_2$ symmetries close to the corresponding critical points.
hep-lat↗
Conformal dimensions in the large charge sectors at the O(4) Wilson-Fisher fixed point
We study the O(4) Wilson-Fisher fixed point in 2+1 dimensions in fixed large-charge sectors identified by products of two spin-j representations $(j_L, j_R)$. Using effective field theory we derive a formula for the conformal dimensions $D(j_L, j_R)$ of the leading operator in terms of two constants, $c_{3/2}$ and $c_{1/2}$, when the sum $j_L + j_R$ is much larger than the difference $|j_L-j_R|$. We compute $D(j_L,j_R)$ when $j_L = j_R$ with Monte Carlo calculations in a discrete formulation of the O(4) lattice field theory, and show excellent agreement with the predicted formula and estimate $c_{3/2}=1.068(4)$ and $c_{1/2}=0.083(3)$.
hep-lat↗
Few-body physics on a space-time lattice in the worldline approach
We formulate the physics of two species of non-relativistic hard-core bosons with attractive or repulsive delta function interactions on a space-time lattice in the worldline approach. We show that worm algorithms can efficiently sample the worldline configurations in any fixed particle-number sector if the chemical potential is tuned carefully. Since fermions can be treated as hard-core bosons up to a permutation sign, we apply this approach to study non-relativistic fermions. The fermion permutation sign is an observable in this approach and can be used to extract energies in each particle-number sector. In one dimension, non-relativistic fermions can only permute across boundaries, and so our approach does not suffer from sign problems in many cases, unlike the auxiliary field method. Using our approach, we discover limitations of the recently proposed complex Langevin calculations in one spatial dimension for some parameter regimes. In higher dimensions, our method suffers from the usual fermion sign problem. Here we provide evidence that it may be possible to alleviate this problem for few-body physics
hep-lat↗
Conformal dimensions via large charge expansion
We construct an efficient Monte Carlo algorithm that overcomes the severe signal-to-noise ratio problems and helps us to accurately compute the conformal dimensions of large-$Q$ fields at the Wilson-Fisher fixed point in the $O(2)$ universality class. Using it we verify a recent proposal that conformal dimensions of strongly coupled conformal field theories with a global $U(1)$ charge can be obtained via a series expansion in the inverse charge $1/Q$. We find that the conformal dimensions of the lowest operator with a fixed charge $Q$ are almost entirely determined by the first few terms in the series.
hep-lat↗
Benchmark results in the 2D lattice Thirring model with a chemical potential
We study the two dimensional lattice Thirring model in the presence of a fermion chemical po- tential. Our model is asymptotically free, contains massive fermions that mimic a baryon and light bosons that mimic pions. Hence it is a useful toy model for QCD, especially since it too suffers from a sign problem in the auxiliary field formulation in the presence of a fermion chemical potential. In this work we formulate the model in both the world line and fermion-bag representations and show that the sign problem can be completely eliminated with open boundary conditions when the fermions are massless. Hence we are able accurately compute a variety of interesting quantities in the model, and these results could provide benchmarks for other methods that are being developed to solve the sign problem in QCD.
hep-lat↗
Generating a non-perturbative mass gap using Feynman diagrams in an asymptotically free theory
Using the example of a two dimensional four-fermion lattice field theory we demonstrate that Feynman diagrams can generate a mass gap when massless fermions interact via a marginally relevant coupling. We introduce an infrared cutoff through the finite system size so that the perturbation series for the partition function and observables become convergent. We then use the Monte Carlo approach to sample sufficiently high orders of diagrams to expose the presence of a mass gap in the lattice model.
hep-lat↗
Fermion bag approach to Hamiltonian lattice field theories in continuous time
We extend the idea of fermion bags to Hamiltonian lattice field theories in the continuous time formulation. Using a class of models we argue that the temperature is a parameter that splits the fermion dynamics into small spatial regions that can be used to identify fermion bags. Using this idea we construct a continuous time quantum Monte Carlo algorithm and compute critical exponents in the 3d Ising Gross-Neveu universality class using a single flavor of massless Hamiltonian staggered fermions. We find $η$=0.54(6) and $ν$=0.88(2) using lattices up to N=2304 sites. We argue that even sizes up to N=10,000 sites should be accessible with supercomputers available today.
hep-lat↗
Real-Time Evolution of Strongly Coupled Fermions driven by Dissipation
We consider the real-time evolution of a strongly coupled system of lattice fermions whose dynamics is driven entirely by dissipative Lindblad processes, with linear or quadratic quantum jump operators. The fermion 2-point functions obey a closed set of differential equations, which can be solved with linear algebra methods. The staggered occupation order parameter of the t-V model decreases exponentially during the dissipative time evolution. The structure factor associated with the various Fourier modes shows the slowing down of low-momentum modes, which is due to particle number conservation. The processes with nearest-neighbor-dependent Lindblad operators have a decay rate that is proportional to the coordination number of the spatial lattice.
quant-ph↗